Vibram FiveFingers® shoes

The latest big product in footwear seems to be Vibram FiveFingers® shoes.

The idea is a shoe that fits like a glove, with each toe having its own pouch. Vibram USA is a company that has been associated with mountain boots for many years. The inventor is Italian Robert Fliri, an industrial designer. Going barefoot gives more grip, but as it can lead to injuries the shoe acts like a second skin and protects the soles.

Reactions have been compared to Marmite® as people either love the sensation or hate it, having been used to their toes being crammed into shoes.

The patent application is called Footwear having independently articuable toe portions. Here is the main drawing.

There is more information on the Primal Lifestyle website.

Comments

[dc shoes uk]

well its helpful source thanks for sharing .. i think dc shoes uk got the technology because i used and feel comfortable,,,

[kludur]

What's the chances of this patent application being successful? It mentions that there have already been patents filed for shoes with individual compartments for toes and for shoes whose sole try to match the contour of the foot.

[etnies trainers UK]

Vibram Five Fingers shoes is unique, its really helpful for mountain climbers. thanks for sharing this information.

[John]

I don´t see how it would be acceptable to get a patent for something that is natural like the foot, even if it is footwear. The idea of individual toe compartments and an anatomical shaped sole isn´t original, except that vibram are the first to have managed to design something that is commercially marketable.
So has the patent gone through as the application was back in 2006/2007. [The international application was published in April 2007. It is undergoing "examination" -- checking to see if it will be allowed -- by the European Patent Office. Ed.]

[John]

I did some surfing online, and read a few other blogs etc. I guess VFF´s international patent application was not sucessful as there are many online counterfeits, also with the huge notices on the vibram fivefingers official webiste warning customers of counterfeits, they couldn´t have got the patent. Kind of good i think, as it allows a free market and fair competition for future new comers who may want to compete.